| 19. Linguistic Exegesis The narrative employs vav consecutive verbal forms to link events: wayyaqḥēl {וַיַּקְהֵ֨ל | way-yaq-ḥēl} ‘and he assembled’ (Hiphil) followed by way-yō-rāʾ {וַיֵּרָא | way-yō-rāʾ} ‘and appeared’ (Niphal). The prepositional phrase ʿalêhem {עֲלֵיהֶם | ʿă-lê-hem} ‘against them’ intensifies the confrontation, while the unmarked direct object marker ʾet {אֶת | ʾet} governs qāl-hā-ʿē-ḏāh {כָּל־הָעֵדָה | qāl-hā-ʿē-ḏāh} ‘all the congregation’. The locative compound ʾel-pə-ṭaḥ ʾō-hel mō-ʿêd {אֶל־פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד | ʾel-pə-ṭaḥ ʾō-hel mō-ʿêd} ‘to the entrance of the tent of meeting’ sets the scene for theophany. The construct ke-vōḏ Yə-hō-wāh {כְּבוֹד־יְהוָה | ke-vōḏ Yə-hō-wāh} ‘glory of the LORD’ introduces the divine manifestation to the assembled community. |